News of our Past: Salmon runs dwindle, new tenant moves into mansion

The Carnegie Library and the Majestic Theatre are two of downtown Chico's most distinctive building, today housing the Chico Museum and the El Rey Theatre. The Carnegie and Majestic were both completed in 1905. Photos like this can be seen in the Chico Museum exhibit, "Chico in Black and White: Historical Photographs from the John Nopel Collection." The museum at 141 Salem St. is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

"Winter salmon declared endangered"

With a downturn in the number of winter-run chinook salmon, the California Fish and Game Commission voted Tuesday to list them as an endangered species.

This could mean tighter restrictions on Sacramento River bank protection work and more controls on recreational and commercial fishing industries, according to Sacramento River Preservation Trust chairman John Merz.

Fish and Game officials estimate the winter run declined from about 2,000 fish in previous years to 550 in 1988.

It was hoped to get 100,000 fry from 100 captured salmon at the federal Coleman National Fish Hatchery, but only 18 of 42 captured salmon survived, producing fewer offspring than desired. ...

— Enterprise-Record, May 17, 1989

"New Tenant In Bidwell Mansion Now"

Unlike the Victorian dress of yesteryear when Gen. John Bidwell and his wife, Annie K., occupied what is now the Bidwell Mansion State Historical Monument, the new tenant wears a green uniform of the California Division of Beaches and Parks emblem.

James Neider became the first supervisor of the historical monument with transfer of the mansion last January from Chico State College to the state.

The transfer included land from Chico Creek on the south, The Esplanade on the east, Aymer J. Hamilton Laboratory School on the north and halfway between the monument and college Education-Psychology Building on the west.

Neider needs information from the public about the location of old furnishings, wall colors and documents.

Restoration will begin upon legislative approval of a $60,000 appropriation requested by state Sen. Stan Pittman,R-Oroville.

— Chico Enterprise-Record, May 18, 1964

"Owen Selected As Agent for Nash Motors"

Appointment of W.W. Owen, 725 Broadway, as dealer of the Nash Motors division of Nash-Keivinator corporation was announced today.

He will handle all 22 models in the four series — the Nash LaFayette Special, the Nash LaFayette DeLuxe, the Nash Ambassador Six and the Nash Ambassador Eight.

The new cars restyled by George W. Walker, industrial designer working with Nash engineers, feature radiator and "cat-walk" grilles of shining chromium, with headlights sunk into the massive front fenders.

The "Weather Eye" conditioned air system for winter driving makes car conditioning automatic all winter.

The super-powered 99-horsepower engine of the LaFayette, or low-priced, series of cars, is the most simple gasoline engine yet designed.

This type of motor is also used in the Ambassador Six and Eight — with twin ignition and valve-in-head motors, like last year. The six has 105 and the eight 115 horsepower. The new cars feature sound-proofing, utilizing the Nash-Kelvinator's "Sand-Mortex." "Sand-Mortex" grains of sand are suspended in a semi-rigid compound and block sound waves by "dancing" in front of them as they try to penetrate the protected surface.

— Chico Enterprise-Record, May 12, 1939

"Whangy Piano Causes Discord"

While things in the recently organized Saturday Musical Club appear to be as sweet and harmonious as a Chopin prelude, there has been discord.

It was alleged by a club officer that a piano of one leading member was woefully and whangfully out of tune.

A meeting planned at one members home was transferred to another as the accompanist would not play the out of tune piano in the first home. An effort was made to substitute another pretty home, but the mistress, of the alleged out-of-tune piano, turned the offer down with frigid abruptness.

The ... program was switched back to the original party with the alleged whangy piano, but the mistress of that home said her piano was still on the rinky-dink ... The meeting was changed to a third home where the musicale was held.

The mistress of the original musicale site refused to sing with the accompanist, who in the first instance declared her piano out of tune, and another accompanist was substituted.

However, the affair has been adjusted and the Saturday Musical Club will tra-la-la on its way. Discords are bound to occur. Even Wagner had them.